Thick No More

Jo Rees has spent 25 years in dyslexia as a teacher, SENCO, specialist assessor, author and mentor, with more than a thousand assessments behind her. She’s also a mum to three dyslexic kids. Yet nobody spotted her own dyslexia until she was 34.This episode is sponsored by Loop Earplugs. #LoopPartnerGet 20% off Loop Switch 2 with code LOOPX-THICKNOMORE: https://www.loopearplugs.com/products/switch?variant=49728323584335&utm_source=meta&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=EvergreenQ42026&utm_term=thick_no_more&klar_source=influencerJay and Jo talk about masking and the “invisibility cloak” she wore through school, what an assessment actually tells you, and why reading and spelling are the symptom, not the dyslexia. She explains why, 25 years on, support may have gone backwards, and how to raise dyslexic kids by leading with what they can do.Connect with Jo:Instagram: @dyslexiclifewithjoreesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dyslexiclifewithjoreesMore from Thick No More: jaygiddens.com

“My ADHD diagnosis didn't just change my life. It saved my life.”What happens when you spend 38 years believing you're the problem, only to discover your brain has been working differently all along?In this powerful, funny, emotional and gloriously unfiltered episode of Thick No More, Jay is joined by Laura Mears-Reynolds, host of the hugely popular ADHD AF podcast, founder of the ADHDAF+ charity, and the woman behind the extraordinary Leopard Print Army.Diagnosed with severe combined-type ADHD at 38, Laura opens up about the years she spent masking, struggling with her mental health, feeling misunderstood and carrying shame that was never hers to carry.But this isn't just a conversation about diagnosis.We explore why ADHD is still missed in women, the complicated emotions of being diagnosed later in life, and whether calling ADHD a superpower really helps.Laura also shares how a podcast recorded at home grew into a movement, a charity and a community where people can finally feel they belong.And when Jay asks his signature closing question, “What does Thick No More mean to you?”, Laura gives an answer that captures everything this podcast stands for:“Shame eradication.”Expect laughter, tears, a few swear words and two people who know what it feels like to grow up believing they're not good enough.In this episode:ADHD diagnosis at 38 and the grief and relief that followedMasking, shame and growing up feeling differentWhy ADHD in women is so often overlookedThe truth about ADHD and the superpower debateThe birth of ADHD AF and the Leopard Print ArmyADHDAF Day and the importance of finding your peopleWhy nobody should have to feel ashamed of how their brain works🐆 Friday 23 October is ADHDAF Day! Wear your leopard print, celebrate the community and help spread awareness.🎙️ Thick No More — honest conversations, no judgement, no pretending.Because nobody deserves to grow up believing they're thick.Follow ADHD AF and discover the support offered by ADHDAF+.If this conversation resonates, please follow Thick No More, share the episode and leave a rating. It helps these stories reach the people who need to hear them.Content note: This episode includes discussion of depression, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders and mental health struggles.

Ever walked into the kitchen, grabbed something to eat and then realised you weren't even hungry?Or promised yourself you'd start eating better, exercising or getting into a routine on Monday… only for everything to fall apart by Wednesday?What if it's not simply a lack of willpower?This week on Thick No More, I'm joined by the brilliant ADHD coach Caitlyn Haselgrove for an honest, funny and sometimes very personal conversation about ADHD, food, dopamine and our complicated relationship with ourselves.We explore:Why ADHD can make our relationship with food so complicated.Emotional eating, impulsivity and chasing that dopamine hit.Why being told to "just have more discipline" isn't always helpful.The connection between ADHD, habits and exercise.Binge eating, guilt and learning to be kinder to ourselves.Why small changes can make a bigger difference than chasing perfection.Caitlyn also opens up about her own experiences growing up with ADHD, the challenges she's faced and how those experiences now shape the work she does helping others.And yes, we even discuss why putting away a pile of clean washing can sometimes feel like climbing Mount Everest! 😂This isn't a conversation about diets, weight loss or getting the perfect body.It's about understanding why our brains sometimes make the simplest things feel so bloody difficult.Because sometimes knowing what we should do and actually being able to do it are two completely different things.Caitlyn also shares a special 20% discount on her coaching programme for the Thick No More community.If you've ever felt like you're constantly fighting your own brain, this one's for you.❤️ JayThick No More — Honest conversations. Real people. No judgement.

Mandi Gosling: ADHD, Lost Years & the Courage to Be YourselfWhat happens when you spend 31 years believing you're the problem, only to discover your brain simply works differently?This week on Thick No More, I'm joined by the incredible Mandi Gosling, Neuralign Global Ambassador, for one of the most honest, emotional and powerful conversations I've had since starting this podcast.And believe me, this one got to me. ❤️Mandi opens up about growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, struggling with things everyone else seemed to find easy, and finally receiving her diagnosis at 31.She talks about something that I think so many adults with late diagnoses will understand.The grief of lost time.The missed opportunities. The years of self-doubt. The anxiety. The feeling that you're somehow failing at life when everyone around you seems to have it figured out.There were laughs, there were tears, and moments where I genuinely struggled to find the words.But this isn't just a conversation about ADHD.We talk about the damage labels can do to children, the importance of confidence, and why we desperately need to stop judging people by how their brains work.Mandi also shares how she became involved with Neuralign, the work they're doing to support children with learning differences, and why she's so passionate about making sure the next generation doesn't grow up feeling the way so many of us did.And during Dyslexia Awareness Week, I can't think of a better conversation to share.A massive thank you to Mandi for trusting me with her story, and to Neuralign for bringing us together.If you've ever felt different, misunderstood, or wondered why life seems harder for you than everyone else, please listen to this episode.You might recognise a little bit of yourself in Mandi's story.And remember, different doesn't mean less. 💛🌐 Website: https://neuralign.org/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuralign_edu/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neuralignThick no more follow us:💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thick-no-more/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thicknomore🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Thick No More — Because nobody deserves to grow up believing they're thick.💛 Find out more about Neuralign🎙️ Follow Thick No More

At 10 years old, Bernadette Haigh was made to stand in front of a classroom of children and explain why she was repeating the school year.Her answer?“I can’t read.”The shame from that moment stayed with her for decades.Today, Bernadette is a proud dyslexic, mum, author, mentor and founder of Daring Dyslexic helping parents protect something that can so easily be lost when a child struggles at school: their belief in themselves.In this episode of Thick No More, Bernadette and I have a very personal conversation about growing up dyslexic, being labelled by education, bullying, parenting neurodivergent children and the damage that can be done when a child starts believing they're stupid.We also get into:• Why confidence can matter as much as academic intervention• The signs that a child's self-esteem may be disappearing• Why parents shouldn't blame themselves for spotting dyslexia late• Why Bernadette doesn't share school grades with her children• The pressure on parents to become advocates, educators and even legal experts• Whether calling dyslexia a “superpower” can sometimes do more harm than good• Why understanding your dyslexia can completely change the story you've been telling yourselfAnd Bernadette shares the moment, aged 35, when she finally received her own dyslexia diagnosis and one thought immediately came into her head:“So I'm not stupid.”If you're dyslexic, raising a dyslexic child, teaching one, or supporting someone who is struggling to believe they're capable, this conversation matters.🎙️ Thick No More with Jay GiddensBecause learning to read matters.But making sure a child doesn't lose themselves along the way matters too.

At 31 years old, Lisa Marshall's life changed with a knock at the door.Her husband Alan had died by suicide.She was suddenly a widow and solo mum to three young children, trying to understand something that made no sense while somehow continuing to make packed lunches, do the food shopping, get the children to school and simply survive.Recorded on World Suicide Prevention Day, this episode of Thick No More is an incredibly open conversation about what happens after suicide to the people left behind.Lisa talks about the Alan she knew before his death: funny, kind, a brilliant dad, making plans for holidays, coaching his son's football team and even talking about what he wanted to do for his 40th birthday.There was no obvious goodbye.No carefully tied-up loose ends.And no note explaining why.Lisa describes the moment police arrived at her home, the shock of being told Alan wasn't coming back, and the unanswered questions that followed.We talk about something people rarely admit openly after suicide: anger.Can you desperately love somebody and still hate what they've done?Can you be furious with them for leaving?Can you blame yourself for not seeing something that nobody else saw either?And what happens when the “why?” you're searching for may never have an answer?Lisa also shares how speaking to people who had survived suicide attempts completely changed her understanding of suicide and challenged beliefs she herself once held.Then there were the children.Lisa talks incredibly honestly about having to tell her young sons their dad wasn't coming home, how differently they processed their grief and how one son's distress appeared through intense anger before autism was later identified.That opens another deeply personal conversation about autism, masking, neurodivergence, parenting and the behaviours we see on the outside versus what may actually be happening underneath.But this isn't an episode solely about death.It's also about living.Lisa remembers laughing just days after Alan died — and the guilt and disbelief that came with discovering she was still capable of it.We even get into dark humour, dating after bereavement and something called “widow's fire” — which definitely wasn't on my podcast bingo card.And we talk about why Lisa eventually created The Widow Diaries, the community she couldn't find when she desperately needed it herself, and the extraordinary messages she now receives from people who tell her that seeing her content made them reconsider ending their own lives.This conversation is raw. At times it's uncomfortable. At others, surprisingly funny.Because grief isn't one emotion.And surviving doesn't mean forgetting.Alan died. Lisa didn't.Living again doesn't mean loving him less.🎙️ In this episode we talk about:• Suicide and the people left behind• World Suicide Prevention Day• The unanswered “why” after suicide• Anger, guilt, blame and rejection• Why suicidal distress doesn't always look like we expect• Parenting after the death of a partner• Explaining suicide to young children• Autism, masking and neurodivergence• How grief can appear through behaviour• Finding joy without feeling guilty• Dating and intimacy after bereavement• The Widow Diaries• Why talking openly about suicide matters• Finding purpose after unimaginable lossIf this episode makes you think of somebody who needs to hear it, please send it to them.And if you're struggling yourself, please reach out to someone you trust or an appropriate crisis or suicide-prevention service where you live.You don't have to carry it alone.🌶️ Thick No More — real stories, real people, real change.

What happens when the signs were always there, but nobody joined the dots?Adam Petrie grew up knowing there was a gap between what he was capable of and what he actually produced at school.He was monitored, labelled and struggled with impulsivity, but it wasn't until the age of 35 that he finally received an ADHD diagnosis.His reaction?“YES!”Because suddenly, decades of his life started to make sense.In this episode of Thick No More, Adam talks openly about his experience at school, the impact of going unidentified for so long, becoming a teacher himself and recognising the same patterns in the children sitting in front of him.We talk about why ability and performance are not the same thing, why parents and teachers often hold different pieces of the same puzzle, the children who quietly slip through the cracks, and why waiting until a child reaches crisis before offering support simply isn't good enough.Adam also shares the story behind Early Signals, the system he's developing to help schools capture those small observations, join the dots earlier and build a clearer picture around a child before those signals become something much bigger.This is a conversation about ADHD, SEND, education, confidence and what can happen when somebody finally looks beyond the behaviour.🎙️ Nobody Joined the Dots | Adam Petrie on ADHD, School & the Signs We MissBecause what a child produces on paper should never define what they're capable of.Thick No More.

What happens when a child fails the same exam again… and again… and again?Hannah Gee knows exactly what that looks like.After watching her son struggle through repeated GCSE Maths and English exams, Hannah recorded an emotional video from her car that resonated with thousands of parents.But she didn’t stop at sharing her frustration.She decided to fight for change.Hannah is the founder of the Fair Exams Campaign, and in this episode of Thick No More, we ask whether our current examination system is really measuring intelligence and ability or simply measuring which young people are best able to succeed within that system.Hannah shares the reality of watching her son’s confidence disappear, the experience of having to persuade him to attend yet another exam, and why she believes repeatedly putting young people through the same system and expecting a different outcome has to stop.We also discuss:🎓 Why Hannah believes exams need to become fairer, not easier📚 Functional Skills and why Hannah believes they could offer a genuine alternative for some young people💷 Fair Exams’ calculation that around £338 million is spent each year on GCSE resits📊 Why Hannah says the average GCSE resit pass rate over the last five years has been around 21%🧠 The huge disparity Hannah highlights between SEND and non-SEND young people achieving English and Maths GCSEs❤️ The impact repeated failure can have on confidence, self-esteem and a young person’s relationship with education📻 Hannah and her son’s appearance on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour🏛️ What Hannah wants politicians and the Department for Education to do differently✊ And, most importantly, what we can all do to support Fair ExamsThis isn't about lowering standards.It's about giving young people a fair opportunity to demonstrate what they actually know.As Hannah says in our conversation:“We’re trying to make them fairer, not easier.”SIGN THE PETITION:Create an applied pathway within GCSE English and Maths, like Functional Skills - PetitionsFAIR EXAMS WEBSITE:Fairer exams. Fairer futures. — Fairer ExamsFOLLOW FAIR EXAMS ON INSTAGRAM:Please don't just listen.Sign the petition. Share it with your school WhatsApp groups. Send it to another parent. Talk about it.The more people who get behind this campaign, the harder this conversation becomes to ignore.If this episode resonates with you, please follow Thick No More on Spotify and share this episode with one person who needs to hear it.Instagram:Every follow, share and listen helps us take these conversations further.Because a grade on a piece of paper should never determine a young person's belief in their own intelligence.You were never thick. You deserved to be understood.🎙️ Thick No More with Jay Giddens✍️ SUPPORT THE FAIR EXAMS CAMPAIGN🎙️ FOLLOW THICK NO MORE

Millions of adults with dyslexia still believe they're the problem.Not because they aren't intelligent.Because nobody ever explained how their brain actually works.In this deeply honest conversation, dyslexia coach and author Natalie Brooks joins Jay Giddens to unpack the realities of adult dyslexia—from working memory and masking to confidence, executive function and why so many people spend decades believing they simply aren't good enough.This isn't another conversation about famous entrepreneurs or "superpowers."It's about understanding yourself.Inside this episode you'll discover:🧠 Why working memory affects conversations, meetings and everyday life💜 Why confidence isn't just emotional—it changes how your brain functions🎭 What masking really looks like in adults with dyslexia💡 Why "picture thinking" can be one of your greatest strengths📖 The inspiration behind Natalie's new book, Dyslexia UnlockedWhether you're dyslexic, neurodivergent, a parent, teacher or employer, this episode will leave you understanding dyslexia in a completely different way.🎙️ Guest: Natalie Brooks📚 Book: Dyslexia UnlockedIf this conversation resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

What happens when one of Britain's most recognisable TV personalities becomes one of the country's most powerful voices for neurodivergent families?In this deeply personal episode of Thick No More, Jay sits down with Carrie Grant MBE to explore autism, education, parenting and the fight for a more inclusive future.Known by millions from Fame Academy, Pop Idol and decades in television and music, Carrie opens up like never before about receiving her own autism diagnosis later in life, raising neurodivergent children and why she believes our education system is still failing too many families.Together, Jay and Carrie discuss:Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adultWhy so many autistic girls and women have been overlookedThe emotional toll carried by SEND parentsWhy schools need a complete rethinkThe power of music and creativityHope, resilience and building communities that truly include everyoneWhy labels should never define potentialThis is an honest, emotional and hopeful conversation that every parent, teacher, educator and neurodivergent adult should hear.If you've ever felt misunderstood, labelled or underestimated, this episode is for you.🎙️ Don't forget to Follow Thick No More so you never miss an episode.